Suspend trials against Italian marines: UN to India

A UN tribunal on Monday asked both India and Italy to “suspend” all court proceedings involving two Italian marines charged with killing of two Indian fishermen in 2012 and also refrain from initiating new ones that might “aggravate or extend” the dispute.

Hearing Italy’s appeal in the case, the President of the International Tribunal on Law of the Sea (ITLOS), Vladimir Golitsyn asked the two countries to submit the initial report in the entire incident by September 24.

The judge said pending a decision by the arbitral tribunal, “Italy and India shall both suspend all court proceedings and shall refrain from initiating new ones which might aggravate or extend the dispute submitted to the...arbitral tribunal or might jeopardise or prejudice the carrying out of any decision which the arbitral tribunal may render.” 

He further said, “Italy and India shall each submit to the Tribunal the initial report...not later than 24 September 2015, and authorises the President, after that date, to request such information from the Parties as he may consider appropriate.” 

The 21-member UN-mandated court located in this German city issued the order with 15 in favour and six against. Unhappy over India’s handling of the marine’s issue, Italy took the matter to the ITLOS challenging Indian jurisdiction in the case.